Noah Abuelafiya, 16, rows his single scull as the sun sets over the waters of Upper Newport Bay. "It's peaceful here," said the Newport Harbor High School sophomore. "Almost like you're in a meditation." EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mike Budd, 65, returns his one-man outrigger canoe to its storage spot at the Newport Aquatic Center. It costs $270 per year to keep a outrigger canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard here. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dawn Fourrier, 44, of Huntington Beach, rows her kayak through the calm waters of Upper Newport Bay. "I had sea lions next to me and it was fantastic," she said after her 6 am workout. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A man guides his outrigger canoe near passing birds on the waters of Upper Newport Bay. Three locations offer kayaks and other human-powered boat rentals on the Back Bay. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Baby snowy egrets nestle in the waters of Upper Newport Bay. The Back Bay is home to nearly 200 species of birds. The Back Bay is a large resting area for migrating birds in the winter, when up to 300,000 can be seen on a given day. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Nicholas Yocca, 16, rows his single scull as the sun sets over the waters of Upper Newport Bay. "When you're in a small boat like this, you really feel what you're doing," he said. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Outrigger canoes head out from the Newport Aquatic Center into the waters of the Back Bay. The facility rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Participants in the High-Performance U.S. Junior Team National Camp prepare to head out in their eight-plus rowing shell from the Newport Aquatic Center. Members here have collectively won 12 Olympic Gold Medals. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Women on the Water team members lift their sculling boat from the waters after a weekend workout at the Newport Aquatic Center. The team started with moms whose kids were on the junior team. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Junior outrigger paddlers keep in unison on the waters of Upper Newport Bay during a late afternoon workout. The team members hail from Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar High Schools. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Visitors can see great blue herons and baby snowy egrets while paddling in the waters of the Upper Newport Bay. The Back Bay is home to nearly 200 species of birds. EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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